West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-07-22
The INTERIOR OF AFRICA.
An Entertaining Account of DR.. Junker's
JOurney-Incidents of the Trip.

Ieve in a supreme being, but they do not
worship Him, considering him so in
finitely superior that the worship of in
significant mortals would not be recog-
nized by Him; but they worship inferior
deities, especially the god of the lake,
and on voyage make hbations TO Him.
They have also a god of WARM fact,
they have their Jupiter, Neptune and
Mars. Warrior chiefs, too, who have
died in battle are worshiped as demi-
gods. This is very much like the Homerlc
mythology. The government of Uganda
Is based ON the feudal system. The chiefs
own land and fulfill the duties of magis-
hates; but there is a right of appeal, and
important cases come before q chief or
chiefs Of the highest order. The kingdom
IS really limited monarchy; it Is gov
erned by a council consisting of the king
and some chiefs of the highest order, in
Guiding the chief butler, baker, and,
above al. the chef DO cuisine, the cook.
Without the sanction of these august
porsonages the king can do nothing.
When this parliament is dissolved-it sits
for three months-the members, like our
M. P.'s, retire 10 their country seats.
The king keeps IN enormous harem, and
polyga1ny is an institution. Children and
girls are sold for guns, ammunition, etc:
In the court there arc dwarfs and
bUffo0ns, as there were at European
courts in the olden times.
Baker writes that needles are in great
Jerand-t,c natives being exceedingly
clover taiors and furriers-a handsome
girl may 30 purchased for thirteen
needles, 70 be exchanged in Unyoro for
an elephant tUsk, which would be worth
$50 or ESQ in England. In Unyoro
there is an established value FOR healthy
young girl-such n person is equal to
single elephants tusk of the first class or
a new shirt. Thus girl night be pur-
chased for a shirt, and Subsequently ex-
changed for a large ELEPHANTS tusk.
Slavery is Q national Institution of the
country. In Unyoro the girls are pur-
chased Tor various commodities, such as
brass coil, bracelets, bark, clothes, cot
ton, shirts, ivory, etc. The Unyoro
country lies at the southeast bank of the
Albert Nyanza.
DR.. Junker was allowed to proceed on
his journey in q boat belonging to the
mission after he had made some hand
some presents to the king. This place is
at the south Of Victoria Nyanza. He re-
manned here four days. Toward the
southwest the banks lose the appearance
of fertility which they had on the north;
and rocky hills without verdure, or
merely covered with stunted minloSa or
coarse grass, run to the margin of the
lake. where they end in naked rocks. In
the narrow bays formed by these ridges
are here and there villages nesting
among banana groves.
DR.. Junber now got to Ukumhi. Here
the hills recede again, and beds of am
batch are found growing in the water.
The natives construct boats from this
weed, which is so extremely buoyant that
a boat ten feet long and four feet wide
made Of it will support at least twelve
men. The lowest point at which this
pithy weed is found is about latitude -.
Other parts of the coast are often fringed
with waterlilies, and the islands at the
south of the lake are as beautiful as fairy
land. 1t is an everchanging kaleidoscope
at one spot purple ccnvolvuh and the
graceful papri abound, around which in
Vulnerable quantities of water fowl of
every description hover and swim; while
here and there huge hippOpOtami are seen
fiOundering, and crOckodiles basklng
where there happens to be Sandbanks or
grassy creeks. In the middle distance are
seen plantain groves and grassy plains Of
a vivid emerald, while in the background
stand gigantic trees with branches twisted
most Enthusiastically. From Ukumhi DIR.
Junker went on to Ut Salala, where
there is a church mission station. Thence
he went with his porters and donkeys
to Uyui. Uyui may almost be called a
bown. 1t is one of the largest col
lections of huts in Africa. Here and
there are places shaded by immense fig
trees. under which the natives sit. This
is prosperous station. 1t is ten miles
northeast from Tabora, the great center
OF Arab trade.
The doctor then continued his journey
over the Ugodo country, through the
Rubal pass to Mpwapwa. Mpwapwa
lies on the western slopes of the Usagara
mountains, adjoining the vast tract Of
forest which separates it from the table
land of UugOdo. Clusters of villages are
scattered all over the plains, their in
habitants supporting themselves ON the
product Of the soil and by breeding
cattle. The country is fertile, and pro-
duces large crops of dhurra, Indian corn
and other cereals. The natives dwell In
mud hutS, built square, with large
court house in the center, into which (as
is common in the Soudan) the cattle are
driven at night to prevent their being
Jumped, " Us the Cape expression runs;
the doors are strongly built of wood.
The inhabitants are n mixed race OF
WacoSo and WaSsagara and other tribes.
Toward the west stretches an immense
plain; to the north are fields of dhurra,
and to the south and east vast forests-a
paradise for a sportsman, as all kinds OF
game-honS, leopards, antelopes and
bulfalOes rove there. In Southerly
direction tower lofty mountains; indeed,
it were difficult to conceive a more
romantic spot than that where our
traveller rested.-Cairo Cor. London
News.
Lamaism in China
The Rev. Jonathan Crossett, who for
co,-o,,tecr, y-oo,ss has bppO n missionary in